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The military-nobility caste known as samurai — roughly meaning “those who serve” — emerged in medieval Japan as provincial warriors, and rose to control the country in the 12th century.

As the enforcement arm of the ruling shogunate, the samurai were elevated to a position of privilege. They followed a code of honor called bushido, informed by Confucianism and Zen Buddhism. Bushido emphasized martial fearlessness, discipline and loyalty, as well as general kindness.

These photos, made in the years after Japan finally opened its ports to international trade, capture samurai in their final days. With the 1868 Meiji Restoration and the end of feudalism, carrying swords was prohibited to all but the new national armed forces.

The samurai class was dissolved, but bushido survived as the national moral code of the new Japan.

There seems to be rising demand for samurai fashion, and we’re big proponents of strapping on a set of lamellar whenever the opportunity presents itself. Now, that opportunity has come to pets with wanko kacchu, or doggy armor.

This samurai-style protective gear is offered by Kandaya, a pet supply (or “pet souvenir,” to use Kandaya’s phrasing) in the town of Kurayoshi in Tottori Prefecture.

If that purple and green color scheme looks familiar, it’s because it’s the same palette used for the Eva Unit-01 giant robot of science fiction anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. There’s also a more traditional set of doggy armor which was first introduced in April.

Aside from its 50-50 blend of cute and cool, the doggy armor is actually tied into the city’s literary background. Kurayoshi is where the grave of Satomi Tadayoshi is located. A famous samurai, Satomi is said to have been the inspiration for one of the characters in the epic novel known as the Hakkenden, or The Legend of the Eight Dogs.

Kandaya rents doggy armor out of its shop at a price of 500 yen (US$4.20) for one hour for the original pattern, or 1,000 yen for 90 minutes for the Evangelion-style suit. Granted, the odds of ninja attacking you while you’re strolling around Kurayoshi are extremely slim, but it’s good to know that should you meet with some hostile shinobi, your pet will be properly outfitted.

A long, long time ago, in a country far, far away, Yoshitoku Taiko made its first doll. Founded in 1711, the company’s history goes back to a time when Japan was ruled by a shogun, and the country sealed off from the rest of the world.

More than three centuries later, Yoshitoku Taiko is still in business, but Japan is now part of the global community. That’s why the company’s latest offerings are two exquisitely crafted dolls of Darth Vader in samurai armor.

In Japan, it’s customary to celebrate May 5, known as either Boys’ Day or Children’s Day, by decorating the home with a doll dressed in a suit of armor. Known as gogatsu ningyo, or “May dolls,” the figures are supposed to represent parents’ desires that their sons grow up to be strong and wise, like the samurai warriors they’re modeled after.

▼ Simpler displays feature just the helmet.

Speaking of samurai, it’s been said that Japanese armor was a major inspiration for the iconic design of Star Wars’ Darth Vader. There are definitely similarities, such as the way Lord Vader’s helmet covers the back of the neck, or the face plate he wears that resembles those samurai often went into battle equipped with. So, seeing as how there’s a new Star Wars movie coming out in December, Yoshitoku Taiko decided to make an addition to their traditional line of May dolls fashioned after historical figures such as Date Masamune, Uesugi Kenshin, and Sanada Yukimura, with these Darth Vadergogatsu ningyo.

Or, if the whole suit of armor is a bit much, you could opt for this Vader helmet set.

While the noble Jedi knights might seem like more appropriate symbols for the virtues of bushido, they don’t wear armor. So Yoshitoku Taiko’s other Star Wars creation doesn’t draw from Luke or Obi-Wan, but the Imperial Stormtroopers.

All of these items are currently sold out, despite prices ranging from 140,400 yen (US$1,180) for the Darth Vader bushi ningyo all the way up to 356,400 yen for the full gogatsu ningyo Vader set. But hey, as any collector will tell you, high-grade Star Wars figurines don’t come cheap, and if and when Yoshitoku Taiko does restock the items on its website, you can be sure they’ll be selling out quickly once again.

Keiunkan Inn in Hayakawa, Yamanashi Prefecture is famous for holding the Guinness World Record for being “The oldest hotel in the world”. Established in 705 A.D., it boasts such notable former guests as daimyoTakeda Shingen, shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, and numerous emperors of Japan.

The inn itself is located in the southern alps of Yamanashi Prefecture, nestled in lush valleys in the very heart of nature. It’s the perfect location for escaping from the hustle and bustle of city life. What’s more, the inn is built upon prime hot springs ground, which means guests are able to enjoy numerous open-air and communal hot spring baths. Each room’s shower, bath and sink facilities are fed by pure hot spring water, which is neither treated nor heated by any artificial means. In fact, except for the toilets,the entire inn uses the hot springs water in its daily running, which makes it a very special and luxurious place to visit.

Our reporter, Yoshio, decided to book a stay in “the oldest hotel in the world” in order t oshare his experiences with the good readers of RocketNews24. Read on for many, many gorgeous photos of his trip!

Here’s Yoshio’s report on everything that Keiunkan Inn has to offer!

The baths

As we mentioned above, the entire inn is serviced by the natural water of the on-site hot springs, including of course the onsen baths and the open-air bathing pools. As you can see from the pictures below, they’re pretty much amazing. Yoshio reports that the quality of the water was top-notch, and the view of the valley from the baths was incredible. What’s more, every single one of the many baths is open for bathing 24 hours a day!

The accommodation

The ultra-Japanese building comprises a total of 35 guest suites. Yoshio was pleasantly surprised to discover that his accommodation consisted of two large Japanese-style rooms, giving him plenty of space to relax. They were also spotlessly clean and neat. The only potential issue for guests could be the price – at 32,000 yen (US$269) per night, it’s a little on the expensive side.

The cuisine

Dinner at Keiunkan is kaiseki style, meaning that your meal is brought to your room and served to you dish by dish. The cuisine included lots of fresh ingredients from the local mountains and river, and there was plenty to satisfy even the heartiest eater. There were also several unusual dishes that you don’t often get the opportunity to taste in Japan – like “acorn soba”. The only complaint Yoshio had was that his “salt-baked char” (a type of fish) was a little lukewarm. After all, when it comes to char, it’s gotta be piping hot, right?

Breakfast was similar to dinner in that it comprised a vast array of dishes which more than filled up our reporter’s stomach. Yoshio tells us that instead of serving the usual white rice, Keiunkan provides okayu rice porridge with breakfast, which is gentler on the stomach. Overall, the quality of both meals served was excellent.

The hospitality

Unfortunately, after all the piping hot onsen water, spotless rooms and delicious eats, Yoshio felt that the service failed to live up to his high expectations. Since Keiunkan is supposed to be famous for being the oldest hotel in existence, he was expecting there to be more information about the history of the hotel available. Even when he asked the staff, nobody seemed to know all that much about it. Sure, the hotel staff are rightfully proud of its reputation and its Guinness World Record, but they weren’t able to answer in-depth questions. Since the hotel almost certainly gets a lot of guests as a result of its fascinating history, it does seem a shame that there wasn’t really any opportunity to find out more about its past. Also, for a place with such a distinguished history, several of the staff seemed overly casual in their approach to the position, with some giving off an “I’m only here part-time” kind of vibe. Sure, that kind of attitude isn’t really a problem at budget hotels, but Keiunkan is supposed to be the oldest hotel in the world – costing over 250 bucks per head a night, no less – so our man felt that a little more effort would certainly have been welcome.

While Yoshio was left disappointed by the service, he still recommends a visit as the baths and cuisine were both excellent. Hopefully in the future Keiunkan will put up some signs and so on explaining the details of the hotel’s past, as well as educating their staff about its incredible history.

We’ll leave you now with photo-tour of the oldest hotel in the world! Enjoy!

It takes around four hours by car from Tokyo to reach the inn

Driving through the mountains

Keiunkan is located in Nishiyama Onsen-go

Deep in the heart of nature

The inn is located in a valley in the southern alps

This building seems to have been constructed more recently

The original building took up both sides of the road

Keiunkan, established 705 A.D.!

The inn comprises 35 guest rooms

The main building seems quite new

In front of the inn is a drinking fountain, titled “Keiun no Yu”

Visitors can drink hot spring water here

The lobby is spacious

The red carpet gives a strong impression

The front desk

The Guinness World Records certificate is displayed at reception

The lounge off the lobby

Yuzu juice as a welcome drink

You can hear the sound of the river flowing in front of the inn

So spacious!

Souvenirs aplenty

These look like original Keiunkan sweets

A pretty large kumade

It’s the biggest we’ve ever seen!

The room (there’s another room on the other side…)

“Hayakawa” river as seen from the window

Clean and simple, Japanese style

Hanging scroll and ikebana

Drinkable onsen water. There’s a water cooler above

Two sinks, no waiting

KOSE brand toiletries

Another room on the other side

The bath. Hot-spring fed, of course

Perhaps no one has used the room yet this year… the hot spring water looks a little thick!

Keiunkan’s famous bath, “Mochitani no Yu”

The scenery from the open-air bath is amazing!

The inn is right by the riverside

The inside bath, “Hinoka no yu”

The bath is made with 2,000 year old Japanese cypress

Reservable open-air bath “Kawaoto”

Reservable open-air bath “Seoto”

“Seoto” is larger than “Kawaoto”

“Hakuhou no Yu”

There’s a sauna, too!

Dinner is served in your room

“Hatsuyuki Tofu”

Appetiser

Trout sashimi

Suimono clear soup

“Acorn soba” provided as a free extra

Chinese cabbage and Koshu beef narutomaki

Yamame yuanyaki

Koshu beef yakiniku, a specialty

Lotus root rice, akadashi soup, pickles

Jersey milk jelly

Breakfast is also served in your own room

If you’re interested in visiting the oldest hotel in the world yourself, the inn’s website is: www.keiunkan.co.jp

Ishikawa Prefecture is a little off most tourist itineraries of Japan, since it’s located along the north coast of the main island of Honshu. If you’ve got the time to spare, though, the capital city of Kanazawa has more than enough attractions to fill a day or two.

The city is home to Kenrokuen, considered one of Japan’s top three gardens and recently voted to be one of the 30 best sightseeing spots in the country. The Omicho Market is also a great place to enjoy delicious seafood, including the shrimp that Ishikawa is known for.

Or, if neither of those pique your interest, there’s also the ninja temple, whose layout is said to be so confusing that few could make it out without a guide.

Although the official name of the structure is Myoryuji, literally the “oddly built temple,” it’s better known as Ninja-dera, the ninja temple. First constructed in the 16th century, the building was moved to its current location in 1643 by Maeda Toshitsune, the warlord who controlled Kaga Fief in present-day Ishikawa.

As an official Buddhist temple, Myoryuji’s ostensible purpose was as a place of worship. In actuality, though, it served as a secret Maeda stronghold. By 1643, the civil war that had ravaged Japan for centuries had largely died down, with the Tokugawashogunate having suppressed its political and military rivals. Still, the peace between the shogunate and the regional warlords was an uneasy one. Maeda feared the Tokugawa forces may one day come to separate him from his gold-rich lands, and placing Myoruji near Kanazawa Castle gave him a safe-house hidden in plain sight.

▼ Maeda Toshitsune

Ninja-dera was never home to a clan of fearsome shadow warriors, however. Instead, its name come from the numerous traps and tricks incorporated into its design to help repel intruders.

The deception starts before you even enter. From the outside, Myoryuji appears to have two floors, in keeping with the feudal era restrictions that prohibited buildings other than the town’s castle from being over three stories tall.

In actuality, though, the complex is built with a four-story frame, and the numerous spaces between the floors give it seven separate levels. Myoryuji’s 23 rooms are connected by an intricate network of no fewer than 29 staircases.

These aren’t all ordinary staircases, either. For example, take a look at the wooden grid at the front of these steps.

The white sections are actually made of paper. As intruders run up the stairs, guards positioned beneath the floorboards could stab at their feet.

Other staircases lead downwards to pit traps. Once the attacker falls into it, his slide continues to a room where a team of defenders is waiting to finish him off before he can recover from the shock and properly defend himself.

As you’d expect from a building constructed at this point in history, many of the passages are connected by traditional Japanese sliding doors. Unlike normal doors of this type, though, many of Myoryuji’s automatically lock after being shut and can only re reopened from one side. This allows defenders to quickly block their adversaries’ advance or trap them in a confined space.

As is the case in many countries, centuries-old architecture in Japan tends to be built for the shorter stature of the people from bygone eras. If the room shown in the following photo looks to you like it has a particularly low ceiling, though, you’re absolutely right.

This purposefully cramped design was chosen in order to give assailants less room in which to swing their weapons, which would put them at a disadvantage against guards who were already aware of the low clearance and adjusted their tactics accordingly.

Even Myoryuji’s well is more than it appears to be at first glance. At the bottom of the 25-meter (82-foot) shaft is a passage that’s said to connect with Kanazawa Castle, although no one who’s alive today has gone deep enough into the tunnel to confirm this.

It’s said that once you enter Myoryuji, its layout is so confusing you won’t be able to find your way out. Thankfully, the temple offers guided tours, which are offered between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Reservations are required though, which can be made by contacting the temple by phone at the number listed on its website here up to three months before the date of your intended visit.

Perhaps the most mysterious thing about Myoryuji, however, is that no one knows the identity of the architect that designed its defensive features. Given the detailed written records throughout Japanese history that chronicle the accomplishments of scholars, statesmen, and strategists, this sort of anonymity is especially rare. Thankfully, not knowing who was responsible for the Ninja Temple so many years ago doesn’t mean visitors can’t still marvel at his or her craftsmanship today.

Japanese family crests (or kamon), have been passed down through the generations for centuries, although these days they’re mostly seen in the patterns of kimono or the logos of sushi restaurants, as well as on flags and armour. Kamon are circular, often featuring animal or plant motifs.

These family crests have found a new home now, though – as logos on cute shoes! These kamon pumps, from an Ikebukuro-based cosplay store, use the actual family motifs of four armoured generals (“busho” in Japanese) from the Sengoku period, to make up this new feudal warlord series. We do love it when Japan combines old and new!

▼ And here’s what Kuroda Yoshitaka‘s family crest looks like when it’s not on patent shoes!

▼ If you’re more of an Akechi kind of girl…

▼ Mōri-san’s kamon is this striking modern-looking design.

▼ And last but not least, the family crest of Maeda Toshimasu.

▼ With a low heel of 1.7cm, these pumps are perfect for day or night; shopping or maybe attending historical conventions.

So if you’ve been looking for a way to show the world your feudal allegiances, you can get your hands on a pair for 6,980 yen (US $68) from Assist Wig, a cosplay wig and accessory store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

As one Twitter user has pointed out, kamon pumps bear more than a passing resemblance to these Tory Burch ballet pumps. Although at $265, these come in at a significantly higher price than Assist Wig’s offerings.